HETHERSETT and Tas Valley are setting a hot pace in Norfolk League Division One with wins in their opening two games to go joint top with Old Buckenham A.

HETHERSETT and Tas Valley are setting a hot pace in Norfolk League Division One with wins in their opening two games to go joint top with Old Buckenham A.

They got a nail-biting one wicket victory over a very good Bungay side in a match that went to the last over with the last Hethersett pair at the wicket.

Hethersett looked to be on their way to a comfortable victory when chasing 182 runs, but then came a middle order collapse but a fine unbeaten 66 by Matt Ellis saw the home team to victory with five balls left.

Hethersett won the toss and put Bungay in. Tight bowling restricted them to 181-8 from their 45 overs and it would have been a lot less without 32 extras and the fact that half-century maker Yorke was dropped before scoring. Asad Abbas took 2-30, Lee King 2-52.

Hethersett started well with Carl Puttock and Richard Ellis putting on 28 for the first wicket. Brothers Richard and Matt Ellis then added 46 for the second wicket before Richard was dismissed for a hard-hit 44.

Matt Ellis continued to take the fight to the Bungay bowlers, but the Hethersett mid order caved in until Lee King came to the wicket to add 33.

Wickets continued to fall after King's dismissal and Phil Walmsley was dismissed off the last ball of the penultimate over with Hethersett still requiring three to win. Ellis had already ridden his luck, being dropped in the 44th over. The Hethersett skipper held his nerve to smash a boundary off the first ball of the final over to bring Hethersett victory by one wicket.

Hethersett Seconds found the going tough at Bradfield where they were bowled out for 153 with Chris Bolderstone (34) top scoring. Bradfield knocked off the runs for the loss of just one wicket with Austin the only Hethersett bowler to take a wicket.

Hethersett Thirds recorded their biggest-ever winning margin with a 10-wicket victory over North Elmham Seconds. Elmham batted first and were all out for 165 in just 29 overs. Alex Reeder took 4-54 and Miles Kemp 2-11. Hethersett scored 167 without loss with Kemp on 51 and Ross Jones on 85 (three sixes).

Hethersett's Sunday sides suffered a double Mid- Norfolk Sunday League defeat. The first team lost to Stow by seven wickets in Division One and the seconds lost by 151 runs to Costessey in Division Four.

Hethersett beat Costessey in the Midweek Wensum 20-20 Cup by 143 runs. Simon Redhead and Jack Smith both scored 33. Asad Abbas was top bowler with 4-10, including three wickets in four balls.

Hethersett U16 had a good 22-run win over Rocklands U17 in a friendly.